Cover for automobile running-boards.



Patented. Feb. 15, 1916.

l R, MANCHA. COVER FUR'AUTOMOBILE RUNNING BOARDS'. APPLICATION FILED MAY I?, 1915. 1,171,8@3

OUVER FOR AUTGMOBILE RUNNING-BOARD.

Application filed May 1'?, 1915.

To all i/:ifoml t may concern 3e it known that I, RAYMOND MANCHA, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Covers for Automobile Running-Boards, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to automobile running boards, and has for its main object to provide a strong and serviceable, rust-proof metal cover for automobile running boards that greatly improves the appearance Ot the automobile and which can be applied easily.

Another' object is to provide a rust and wear proof metal cover for automobile running boards which is so constructed that the only l'astening devices required to hold it in operative position are the same fastening devices that are employed for securing the running board to the parts of the machine that carry same. 4And still another object is to providean inexpensive running board cover for -Ford automobiles that can be applied by a person unskilled in mechanics and which converts the ruiming board of Such an automobile into an ornamental structure that will not rust and which will successfully withstand hard wear and rough usage.

Other objects and desirable features oi my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing my improved cover applied to the running board of a Ford automobile. Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view.y partly broken away, of a portion oi my improved cover. Fig'. 3 is a vertical.v longitudinal-sectional view taken on the line 3M?) ot' Fig. Fig. 4v is a vertical, transverse-sectional view taken on the line 4 4 ot Fig. 2: and Fig. 5 is a perspective view, illustrating a slight modification of my invention.

l have herein illustrated my invention embodied in a running board cover that is designed ior use on the ruiming board of a Ford automobile, whicn, as is generally known. is lornied i'rom a sheet oi steel whose ing ianges 15. said sheet having diamondshaped protuberances or raised portions u Specication of Letters Patent.

Fatented Feb. 3.5, 1916.

Serial No. 28,644.

formed in same, as shown in-Figs- 2, 3 and et, so as to stiften the sheet and form a roughened surface on the top face of the running board. The running board s is mounted on brackets or hangers '1,0 on the frame of the machine to which the running board is connected by means of bolts l and the end portions of the running board are secured to the front and rear fenders a' by means of bolts 2. The running board s is merely coated with paint or enamel, which soon wears Off, and unless the running board is painted Or enameled frequently, it will soon rust out. The result is that the running boards ofvFord automobiles and other automobiles provided with sheet metal running boards look worn and marred shortly after the machine has been put in use, and constant care on the part of the owner is required to prevent the running board from being eaten away by rust.

lvly complete running board cover preferably consists ot a center portion that protects the top suriace of the ruiming board and two side portions that protect the edge portions of the running board, said cover being formed irom rust-proof metal, preferably aluminum, and constructed in such a manner that it can be applied easily by a person unskilled in mechanics.

in the preterrefl form of my invention, as herein shown, said cover consists ofv a member that extends over and protects the top surface of the ruiming board s and two side members l that incase the edge portions of the running board s and the depending langes t thereon. 'l`he member A is formed from a tint sheet ol aluminum, or other suitable rust-proot metal that has suilicient strength or stillness to prevent it 'from bending or becoming indented when it is subjected to a heav \1 load or sharp blow and the members l) are formed from thinner sheet aluminum or other suitable rust-proof material that can be bent or flanged without liability ot' breaking. rl`he member is retained in operative position by the bolts l and 2 that secure therunning boards to the brackets fr and to the Jfenders of the automobile. and the underside ot' said member A is preferably made flat so that it will bear squarely or evenly upon the protuberances or raised portions u on the running board, thereby causing the member A to be firmly supported throughout its entire length and width. The side members B are of such cross-sectional shape that ivhen they are slipped longitudinally over the edge portions and the depending liauges t on the running board the edges ot saine will press `tightly against said flanges.

As shoivn in Fig. l. the loiver portion of each ol the members l is large enough so that it vvill aeeonimralate flanges t of various depths, and it is so formed that the part ol saine which bears against the inner side of the flange t ivith which it cooperates vvill bite into said flange, or. in other ivords, have suliieient resiliency to hohl its edge pressed tightly against said flange. By Ytormipg the side members B in this manner l insure said members being held securely in position without thiA aid ot fastening devices. members B have portions 3 that projeet laterally underneath the longitudinal edge portions ot the member and il desired, the laterally-projeeting portions 3 on the members B can be bent upwardly slightly, as shown in Fig. l, so as to forni supporting devices for the side edge. portions ot' the member A. that lie in the same horizontal plane as the tops of 'the protuberancesu on the ruiming board a. llfashers 4 are preterably arranged on the bolts l and 2 between the running board and the underside or. the member A., so as to iirm'ly supportrsaid member at the points where the bolts pass through same7 and thus eliniinate the possibility ot' the member A being bent by dra ving the bolts too tight during the operation ot applying the member A to the ruiming board.

As shown in Fig. Ll, the center member A laps overtlie inwardly'-projecting portion 3 on the Side members B in such a that it securely clamps the members B in position and prevents them from being stripped or pulled laterallyT ott the edge portions of the running board, as might occur ir'l the members l were provided `with exposed edges. The top surface ot the member A is'preferably tinted so as to impart a neat and ornamental agpearance to same and also form a relatively rough surface on that por'- tion ol my improved cover which a personvs foot rests on upon entering or leaving the automobile. i

Instead of making the member pern teotly iat throughout its entire Width., as shown in Fig. e, the longitudinal edge por tions ot' said member can be bent downwardly slightly at 3, as shown in Fig. 51 so as to cause the side edges of the member to bear tightly against 'the men'ibers B or against the running board when the side members il are not employed. member of the cross-sectional shape shown in Fig is exceptionally strong and rigid.l thus enabliiug it to be formed from eompaiuitively light-weielit sheet metai and the lianged The have been ti'ghtened,-tliat it is impossible tor l the member to rattle.

lllhile ni'v complete running board Cover preferably consists ot three separate meniy hers.y it ivilh ot course` he obv ious that one or both ot' the nieiuhers l5 could he omitted without departing liroui the spirit oif my invention., as the portion oi' the runningboa rd that is subjected lo the greatest ivear that portion ot' the running board which is cov-- ered by the member A ot' the Cover.

A running boa rd cover o l" the construction above iileseribed can be manufactured cheaply; it can b'e applied easily by an unskilled person by simply removing the running board s, slipping the members l longitudinally over the side edge portions and flanges t ot saine and then placing the meinber Ai over the running board and securing both of said elements to the running board bange 20 and to the tenders ,r by in ting the bolts l and i2. Such a device adds greatly to the appearance ot any automobile provided ivith a sheet steel ruiming board, and as it is Jformed from rust-prooi metal that is strong and rigid enough to successfully With-- stand hard wear and usage, it does not become unsightly after it has been in use for a short period. In addition to improving the appearance of the autoiiiobile,v a running board cover of the construction above described reinforces and strengthens the run ,ning board on which it is appliedq as the member A oi' the cover consists of a, stilil or rigid sheet ot' metal that extends throughout the entire length and Width oi' the ruiming board and which is bound to saine 'securely by the bolts l. .Consequently, the cover can be used advantageously for repairing broken or defective sheet metal running board. The bolts l and 9 that retain the member A in position are preferably galva nized or 'formed Yfrom rustproot metal. said bolts forming part et' the complete cover so that they can be substituted iter the usual iron bolts einployetfl in Ford automobiles 'for securing the running board in position.

llllliile l have described my inveutii'ui as consisting of a ruiming board cover designed for use on a Ford automobile` l Wish it to be. understood that my broad idea not hiiiited to a running board cover ot' the partirular design herein shoiif'n, as my broad idea. een sists in a detachable, rust-proof corer `ilznined of metal that has great Wear-resisting properties which is adapted to he applied to an automobile rainning hoard so as to protect and improve the appearance ot same ll'lming thus described my invention, what l elaiiiif, land desire to secure b'v laitiers Patent, is:

in an antoinobiley the -oinbination oli' a lli v ing the top surface of said board and resting on the projections thereon, and rust-proof metal side members arranged in telescopic engagement with the depending flanges on v said running board and provided With por- 10 tions that project laterally under said pro tecting member so as vto form supporting devices for the side edge Aportions of same.

n testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my .signature in the presence of two Witnesses,

this fourteenth day of May, 1915.

RAYMOND MANCHA.

Witnesses:

WELLS L. CHURCH GEORGE BAKEWELL. 

